IBM announced today that it has opened up the Watson computing environment to developers in the cloud. You’ll have access to a development sandbox where you can work with the Watson technology, train it on the information in which you want it to become an expert, and even ready an application to introduce to the marketplace.

It’s called the IBM Watson Developer Cloud, and a few companies have already done some work with it. Welltok has developed something of a personal-health-and-fitness coach that will help you stay on target with your diet and exercise goals. Fluid has created an app that stands in for that one person at a specialized retail store who knows everything you’re going to need for, say, a backpacking trip. MD On-Line created a medical app.

If you missed Watson’s debut on national TV, then it’s worth going back and reading my stories about how it beat the two best players ever in the history of “Jeopardy!” — but not without embarrassing itself with a really weird answer at the end of the second day. (Day One | Day Two | Day Three)

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